Max HeyraudThe Minister for Culture, Communications, and Sport, Patrick O’Donovan, announced over €1.4 million in financing through Culture Ireland’s Regular Grants Programme, with over 100 musicians and almost 200 creative projects taking to stages, screens, and galleries in 41 countries.
From Pillow Queens to Samuel Beckett, Bricknasty to the Irish Baroque Orchestra, Open Ear, and others, the initiative spans genre and region, reflecting the increasingly global pace of Irish music.
“Culture Ireland is central to the support and promotion of Irish arts internationally,” said Minister O’Donovan. “The growing demand for culture in Ireland’s funding highlights the strong global interest in Irish creative talent.”
More than 100 music projects were approved. Post-punk heavyweights The Murder Capital, trad veterans The Fureys, genre-bending acts like YARD, and rising stars like Curtisy and Bricknasty are all set for international tours.
Pillow Queens will tour 17 European cities in support of Lord Huron, while Kíla will perform their hybrid folk sound in North America. The Irish Baroque Orchestra earns a significant €35,000 for their U.S. tour.
This funding provides a much-needed source of revenue for Irish artists. Touring is essential for their growth and exposure, but it’s becoming increasingly expensive to do independently, often costing more than it earns. By supporting grassroots musicians, the funding helps push Irish talent beyond our shores, further strengthening the new wave of Irish cultural exports influencing global pop culture.
